Staten Island runners support Boston terror victims

Members of the Staten Island running community flank organizer Michele King-Gonzalez, second left, in Clove Lakes Park.Staten Island Advance/Kiawana Rich

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The borough's runners turned out in force Monday evening -- the one-week anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing -- to show support for their fellow road warriors and to thumb their noses at the terrorists.

Close to 70 runners assembled at Clove Lakes Park to run on behalf of the three persons who were killed and 180-plus who were injured when twin pressure-cooker bombs rained hellfire at the marathon's finish line.

John Chan, 48, of Westerleigh, who is legally blind, was running with three guides in the marathon. A half-hour after crossing the finish line, he headed back to take pictures when the two bombs went off. "I looked up and I saw smoke and we got nervous," he said. "And we ran toward the finish line and there we saw blood all over the sidewalk; it looked something like a war zone."

Event organizer Michele King-Gonzalez, 31, of Tottenville, said Monday's run was part of 120 events worldwide in support of Boston. Ms. King-Gonzalez said that had she not given birth six months ago, she, too, would have been in Boston.

"It hit a little close to home for a lot of people," she said. "A lot of Staten Islanders run in the Boston Marathon. Staten Island is a small-knit community so everyone knew someone who was involved or affected this year. It just hit too close to home."

Caroline Brady, 38, of the Richmond Rockets running club, which sent several competitors to Boston, said she feared for friends a week ago.

"My heart sank," said the Great Kills resident, "Why would you want to hurt people who are using their bodies for something positive?" She noted that many runners were there to support victims of the Newtown, Conn., school massacre.

Runners at Monday's event either had run in Boston or knew people who were there or were affected. Runners like Bryan Thompson, 56, of New Brighton, recalled how there was no cell phone service to reach out to loved ones, and with public transportation shut down, runners had a hard time getting out of the city.

Amy Eshleman, also with the Richmond Rockets and who ran with Chan, spoke about determination in the face of fear.

"It's an amazing experience," said Ms. Eshleman, for anyone who has run the Boston. "I'm not going to let two people ruin it," she said to cheers.

"It was the spectators who were hurt last week and that is so tragic and so upsetting," she added. "But we need to come back strong and we need to show our support and we need to say we are all part of Boston."

Chan, like many, said he would not let the terrorists win: "I came out so I can move on, and move forward and have closure for myself."